TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “Belly’s story has touched the nation and has travelled across the world.

“The protection of transport and all front line workers is absolutely essential.

“These are the people who have kept our country moving through the worst of the pandemic and that’s why I’ve written to the Prime Minister asking for the compensation scheme currently available to NHS staff to be extended to transport workers.

“In many of my meetings and calls I have people passing on their condolences and saying how much Belly’s story affected them, including the Transport Secretary this week.

“Belly’s is one of too many sad stories of people losing their lives.

“We now want the best protections and safest workplaces for all workers to prevent anyone catching this terrible disease.”

TSSA official Maggie Hayes, who represents union members based in Victoria Station, said frontline staff were still being denied basic protections such as protective visors.